Fighting back at food poverty

Business leaders, politicians and community workers have rallied together in a bid to tackle food poverty. More than 100 delegates attended the conference hosted by the M.E.N. and cereal manufacturer Kellogg’s to discuss how businesses can do their bit to prevent children going hungry.

Delegates were asked to come up with ways their companies could support charities working to feed families on the breadline – and what could be done to tackle the issues behind food poverty.

More than £2,000 worth of food vouchers were also given out to delegates to donate to a charity or community groups in their areas to get the ball rolling.

A steering group will now be set up to continue the battle against food poverty in Greater Manchester and find more ways of linking up businesses with the charities they can help.

The event forms part of the M.E.N’s ongoing campaign to beat food poverty and the scandal of up to half of all children in some parts of the region regularly going without enough to eat.

M.E.N. editor-in-chief Rob Irvine said: “Perhaps, like many people, I was naïve in thinking that the basic needs of humanity were being met to a large degree in the western world and that mass homelessness and hunger were challenges faced only by developing nations.

“But a report by Manchester council last October lifted the scales from our eyes and made it crystal clear that not just child poverty but child hunger is a huge and indeed growing problem right here on our doorstep.

“Four out of ten children living below the poverty line, one in five of the population regularly going without food for lack of money - behind these numbers there are truly heartbreaking stories of mums and dads trying to make ends meet – and often failing.

“Something has gone badly wrong in our society when a region such as Greater Manchester sees poverty levels on this scale.

“Our campaign is not seeking to lay blame or to find scapegoats. We have to face the situation as it stands and do something about it.”

Businesses including United Utilities, Seddon Construction, The Co-operative Group and Fujitsu were all represented at the event.

The event was hosted by Kellogg’s, which runs 23 breakfast clubs at schools in Greater Manchester and also supports foodbank charity the Trussell Trust.

Kellogg’s UK managing director Jonathan Myers said: “We’re delighted with today’s event – it was a great way to bring different organisations together and see what skills are available to address this problem which is right under our noses in Greater Manchester.

“There are a lot of benefits from bringing these different groups together but fundamentally it is about tackling food poverty.”

‘I’m buzzing with inspiration’:?business leaders’ summit verdicts

Sean Hansford

Guy Goodger

Guy Goodge r, head of community impact at Business In The Community, said: “This was a fantastic start to get businesses and organisations stuck into the issue, working together to find solutions.”

Sean Hansford

Wendy Dunn

Wendy Dunn , founder of Wendy Dunn Research, based in Wilmslow, said: “I’m buzzing with inspiration from the event today.

“I feel my children go to a school where there’s no child poverty and live in a bubble – I’ll be going into their schools to set up regular food bank collections.”

Sean Hansford

Martin York

Martin York from Fujitsu, currently on secondment to Business in the Community based in Tameside, said: “It’s been great to see so many people take part in this event today because there is always more business can do to

tackle issues like food poverty.”

Sean Hansford

Laura Vickery

Laura Vickery , community manager for the Co-operative Group: “We already support foodbanks through the Co-operative Membership Community Fund, and are finding more and more of them are applying for funds to support the work they do.”

Sean Hansford

Nicola Crowther

Nicola Crowther , senior project manager, BBC Outreach, said: “I came wanting to hear more about the stats, which were very interesting and quite shocking. Now the trick is to listen to what charities want and need from us.”

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